Decoy-duck.



J. w. REYNOLDS.

DEGOY DUOK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW E. GRAHAM 00.. PHoTmJmcawnPuzRs. WASHINGTON. D. c

J. W. REYNOLDS.

DEGOY DUGK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1909,

95 5 ,203, Patented Apr. 1-9, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mumnoentov I c/. Mfa nolds.

I it M r I a 6mm") FIQE.

JAMES W. REYNOLDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DECOY-DUCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. REYNOLDS, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decoy-Ducks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to decoys, such as deco-y ducks used by sportsmen in hunting.

Heretofore collapsible and folding ducks of several kinds have been made, and also wooden decoys. The latter are particularly objectionable, as they are inconvenient to carry and heavy and bulky in a boat and inconvenient to ship or transport. "With collapsible and folding kinds, different devices or parts have had to be manipulated or adjusted to expand or collapse the decoy, which has required time and attention.

The object of the present invention is to provide an article which, in addition to being cheap to make and durable in service, may be rapidly handled and collapsed or expanded, the construction being such that it will automatically expand by means of a spring when the anchor cord is unwound, such cord being wound around the device when the same is collapsed for the purpose of holding it in that position. The decoy is uninjured by shot, the danger of puncture being a serious defect in prior decoys inflated by air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a decoy that is light in weight and which will pack in a small space.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of the decoy, distended; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the frame in distended or normal position, the cover being removed; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the frame in collapsed position; Fig. 4 is a similar view of the whole article collapsed and with the anchor cord Wound around the same to hold it in such position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates a float or board having an outline conforming to the shape of the fowl at the water line. A cover 7 which will be cut or made and painted to represent the fowl desired, is formed of flexible fabric or material tacked at the bottom to the edges of the float. WVithin this cover is a tail support and a head support. The former consists of a piece of bent wire 8 looped at its ends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 5, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Serial No. 476,238.

into staples 9 in the top of the board near the rear end thereof, the wire being bent and shaped to correspond to the shape of the tail of the fowl to be represented. The loop connections allow the tail support to swing down against or upon the board when the device is collapsed.

The head support consists of a block 10 shaped in simulation of a head and mount ed to turn at the upper end of a wire 11, a simple pivoted connection being formed by entering the end of the wire into a bore in the under side of the block. At the lower end the wire is coiled as at 12 to form a spring, and the extremity of the wire beyond the spring is bent to lit in a hole 13 in the board, and fastened by a staple 14; driven into the board. The upright part of the wire 11 is curved to correspond in general outline to the breast and neck of the fowl. The head part of the cover 7 is shaped to fit closely over the block 10.

Ballast for the duck is provided by means of a sheet metal weight 15 which is hinged to the under side of the board by staples 16, permitting the weight to fold up closely against the bottom of the board when the decoy is collapsed. An anchor 17 is connected by a cord 18 to the bottom of the float, and when the decoy is collapsed the anchor cord is wound around the same, as shown in Fig. 4, to hold the parts in folded position.

The float is provided at the front with a notch or recess 19 which is important. This notch allows the water to readily pass or escape from the inside of the decoy, as it tips or rolls in rough water, thereby preventing the decoy becoming water-logged and, in fact, causing it at all times to sit in an upright position. The free escape of water which may leak or otherwise enter into the body of the decoy serves to prevent undue pitching and rolling which would otherwise be caused by water confined in the body. For the same reason or purpose a slit is provided in the cover, under the tail, as indicated in dotted lines at 20. The cover is made to fit closely around the tail support 8.

The whole decoy is normally distended by means of the spring 12 which tends to hold the head block in upright position, as shown in Fig. 2. When the head support is in upright position the pull forwardly on the cover lifts the tail support until the cover is fully stretched. To collapse the decoy to occupy the least possible space, the head block 10 is swung around to a right angle and then pressed down backwardly toward the board, when the head turned as stated will lie flatly against the board. The same action releases the forward pull on the top of the cover and allows the tail support to swing down against the board. The anchor cord is then conveniently wound around the decoy, shown in Fig. 4, to hold it in folded position. V hen the cord is unwound the spring causes the head support to fly up and automatically distend the cover, the head block turning back to proper position in consequence of the pull of the cloth. It is to be noticed that the wire parts within the body are not fastened to the cloth, which saves time in manufacture which would otherwise be required to fasten the parts together, the cloth being simply tacked to the board and shaped as stated.

I am aware that the structure may be modified in various ways with respect to any or all of its parts, and no limitation is implied. by reason of the particular structure shown, the basic idea of the invention being the provision of a spring which will automatically distend the decoy, and which may nevertheless be collapsed to practically flat position when desired.

I claim:

1. A decoy comprising a bottom, a collapsible body thereon, and head and tail supports mounted on the bottom within the body, and foldable down toward the bottom, one of said supports being provided with a spring tending to raise the same and distend the body.

2. A decoy comprising a bottom, a collapsible body thereon, a head support in the body flexibly connected to the bottom and foldable backwardly toward the same and provided with a spring pressing the same upwardly and forwardly, and a tail support flexibly connected to the bottom and extending backwardly to the tail of the body.

3. A decoy duck comprising a bottom, a collapsible body thereon, and head and tail supports mounted on the bottom within the body and foldable down toward the bottom, said head support embodying a head piece constructed to turn to position to lie flat against the bottom when collapsed, and one of said supports having a spring tending to raise the same and distend the body.

4. A decoy comprising a bottom, a col lapsible body thereon, and head and tail supports within the body and pivotally con nected to, and foldable down against, the bottom, the head support having a turning head piece at the top thereof, whereby it may be turned to lie flatly upon the bottom.

0. A decoy comprising a bottom and a hollow body thereon, the bottom having an opening at its forward edge opening into the hollow body, and the body having an opening beneath its tail portion, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES XV. REYNOLDS. lVitnesses NELLIE FELTSKOG, H. G. BATOHELOR. 

